Method of manufacturing cable beads ob



F. H. BEYEA.

METHOD OF MANUFACTURING CABLE BEADS 0R GROMMETS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1.4,.1.921.

1 ,429, 1 23. Pat ted pt- 12, 1922.

my] a a [nvenfor Frank H Be ea.

Patented Sept. 12, 1922.

UNITED STATES FRANK H. BEYEA, OF AKRON, OHIO.

METHOD OF MANUFACTURING CABLE BEADS 0R GROMMETii.

Application filed September 14, 1921.

To all to hem it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK H. BEYEA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Manufacturing Cable Beads or Grommets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the manufacture of circular cables or grommets, such as used in the inextensible beads in pneumatic tires, and it is the purpose of this invention to improve upon and simplify the manufacture of this article over methods now in use.

In a prior application Serial No. 472,623 filed May 26, 1921., I have proposed to form the grommet from a circular central or core wire, and an outer covering wire distinct and separate therefrom. In the present application, however, I propose to use a single wire for this purpose.

The method of my invention is illustrated by the drawings accompanying this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view of the single piece of wire from which'the circular cable is made.

Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the bead in the process of manufacture.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the bead completed except for the tucking in ofthe end of the wire after the completion of the winding or wrapping operation.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 4;.

Fig. Fig. 4.

The present application discloses a method of making a cable bead or grommet, which method is similar in some respects to the method disclosed in the prior application referred to above, in that the wire which comprises the bead is given a preliminary spiralling or crimping before the wrapping operation. The advantages of preliminary crimping or spiralling of the wire before wrapping it about itself to form the core wire, are that the spiralling is done as a preliminary operation and not during or as a part of the winding or wrapping operation. so that a more accurate and perfect spiral may be given to the wire and a higher carbon or stiffer wire may be'used for this purpose. Furthermore, the sp a g s 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Serial No. 500,650.

done in a separate machine from the winding or wrapping machine, which simplifies the latter machine and reduces the liability of failure or disablement of the wrapping machine. Objects and. advantages other than those specifically mentioned will be ap parent as the disclosure proceeds.

In my prior application above referred to, I proposed to use a separate core wire as a foundation about which the outer or covering wire is wrapped. According to this invention, however, I propose to use the same wire as the core wire and cover it with a spiralled extension of itself, the central or core wire being in several sections, some of which form the foundation upon which the winding is performed, and the other sections of which cover the foundation and are tucked within the body of the wire after the winding operation is completed.

Thus, in Fig. 1 the wire is shown preformed with the spiral and straight portions and prepared for the winding or wrapping operation. The wire is indicated as a whole by the numeral 1, and is formed with a spiralled section 2, a straight section 3, a second spiralled section f and a straight section 5. The section 2 comprises a few spirals as indicated, the straight section 3 is of a length sufficient to form a large portion of the circumference as a central or core wire, the spiralled portion 2 completing the circumference of the bead core or grommet as a foundation. The length of wire comprised of the two sections 2 and 3, is bent into circular form as shown in Fig. 3 and the wire is then wrapped about these two sections as a foundation, the core and spools travelling in the relative relationship shown by the arrow in Fig. 3. The portion 4. of the wire is of a length sutlicient to cover the bead in a plurality of successive convolutions. The whole length of wire is assembled upon a carrier or spool 6. When the wire has been completely wrapped the straight end 5 is run out. as shown. in Fig. 4-, and cut off fromv the remainder of the wire. and this end is tucked in the cavity formed in the center of the bead at the por tion 2 thereof, and the wire is complete except for the stretching operation which brings the head to the proper size and causes the several convolutions to lie together closely and smoothly. The wire is then incorporated in the bead structure. While only one unit is shown in Fig. 1, it will be understood that each length of wire on the spool comprises several of these units.

My present process differs from those which have preceded it, in that the wire is given the spiral formation before it is assembled upon the carrier or spool 6, and before being placed in the wrapping or winding machine. By Fig. 1 in which portions of the wire are broken out, I have intended to show a length of wire sufficient to make a single complete bead. core or grommet, it being understood that the length of wire which goes into the machine will comprise a large number of units.

While the specific order of the several portions of the wire is preferred, the straight and spiralled portions of the wire which constitute the foundation may be reversed in position.

.In former practices it has been the custom to make wire beads by the use of a quill or die as a part of the head which revolved about the core wire and to give the spiral formation to the wire during the wrappin Such practice has meant a setting and resetting of the machine several times during the operation of manufacturing a single grommet. By preparing or preforming the wire with the spiral and straight portions before it is placed. in the carrier, I am enabled to dispense with the setting and resetting operation and as a result, the manufacture of the bead cores may be done with less labor and greater efficiency.

It will be noted that, as the wire is assem bled upon the spool or carrier in crimped. or spiralled form, it is necessary that the spool be passed around the wire in such fashion that the preformed spiral is not altered. To do this, the spool is maintained with its axis always perpendicular to the plane of the core, so that the wire is not twisted as it comes off the spool. This method of winding is original with me and is covered generically in my prior applications Serial Nos. 472,623 filed May 26, 1921 and Serial No. 499,305 filed September 8,

Changes and modifications may be made in the carrying out of the process of my in Vention without departing from the spirit thereof or sacrificing any of its benefits.

. The inventionis not limited to the manubending the first two said portions of the wire around to form a circle, winding the third portion of the'wire about the first two said portions to form the cable and tucking the fourth portion of the wire within the first said. portion.

2. A process of manufacturing circular cables or grommets, comprising forming a unit length of wire with a spiralled portion at either side of which is a straight portion, assembling the wire so shaped. upon a carrier, bending the leading portion of the wire around to form a circle winding the spi ralled portion of the wire about the circle so formed in a number of successive convolutions to form a cable grommet and tucking the remaining straight portions of the wire within the grommet.

3! A process of manufacturing circular cables or grommets, comprising the steps of forming a wire with two straight portions and two spiralled portions in alternation bending a straight or a spiralled portion in a circle to form the foundation for the groin met, then winding the second spiralledportion of the wire about the said foundation in a plurality of successive con'volutions to complete the bead and tucking the remaining straight portion within the body of the bead.

4. A process of manufacturing circular cables or grommets comprising the steps of forming a wire with straight portions and spiralled portions in alternation, one straight portion and an adjacent spiral portion being of combined length to form a circle of the required size of the grommet, forming acirole from the two said portions, an adjacent spiralled portion of the wire being of sufficient length to completely cover the said grommet in a plurality of successive convolutions, wrapping the last mentioned spiral portion in the manner described and tucking an adjacent straight portion within the body of the grommet.

5. A process of manufacturing circular cables or grommets, comprising the steps of forming a. wire with straight portions and spiralled portions in alternation, one straight portion and an acent spiral portion being of combined length to form a circular foundation of the required size of the grommet, and an adjacent spiral portion being of a length to completely cover the said grommet in a plurality of successive convolutions, assembling the wire so formed on a carrier, drawing the first two mentioned portions from the carrier and bending them to form a foundation for the grommet, wrapping the third named portion about said foundation to form the grommet, and then tucking asucceeding straight portion of the wire into the body of the grommet.

I FRANK Hi; BEYEA. 

